SPRING COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton

Bobby K. Marks, Sam Houston State University president, will confer degrees and recognize winners of faculty excellence awards at ceremonies scheduled for 10 a.m. (Colleges of Education and Applied Science and Criminal Justice) and 2 p.m. (Colleges of Business and Arts and Sciences).

As the 70th secretary of the Navy, Dalton is responsible for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and those services' recruiting, organizing, supplying, equipping, training, mobilizing and demobilizing. He also oversees the construction, outfitting and repair of naval ships, equipment and facilities.

Dalton has held his present position since July 22, 1993. He was nominated to the position by President Clinton on July 1, 1993 and confirmed by the U. S. Senate on July 21.

Previously, Dalton ran the San Antonio office of Stephens Inc., a Little Rock, Ark.-based investment banking firm. Before that he was managing director of Best Associations and Mason Best Company, merchant banking firms headquartered in Houston and Dallas respectively.

From 1984 to 1988 he served as chairman and chief executive officer of Freedom Capital Corporation in San Antonio, and president of the Seguin Savings Association. Prior to that position, he was president of the real estate division of the Gill Companies of San Antonio.

President Carter nominated Dalton to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board in December 1979, where he served as a member and chairman until July 1981. He was president of the Government National Mortgage Association of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development before being appointed to the bank board. He began his public service career after serving with the investment firm of Goldman, Sachs & Company in Dallas.

In 1971 he received a Master of Business Administration Degree from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania. He attended Louisiana State University for one year before attending the U. S. Naval Academy. He graduated with distinction from Annapolis in 1964, having served as deputy brigade commander, the academy's number two ranking position. He was a finalist in the Rhodes Scholarship competition.

Serving in the Navy from 1964 to 1969, he received naval nuclear power training and served aboard the submarine USS Blueback, as supply and commissary officer, and USS John C. Calhoun, as main propulsion assistant, communications officer and weapons officer. He attained the rank of lieutenant while serving on active duty. Subsequently, he was promoted to lieutenant commander in the U. S. Naval Reserve.

Dalton was recognized by the National Security Caucus as their prestigious International Security Leadership Award recipient for 1997. The award recognizes his "leadership and vision in promoting American sea power and a bipartisan maritime strategy."

Previous award winners include: former Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan; former Secretaries of Defense William Perry and Caspar Weinberger; and former Senators John Stennis, John Tower, Henry Jackson and Sam Nunn. Dalton is the first service secretary to receive the award.

The National Security Caucus Foundation has also established the John H. Dalton Congressional Fellowship in Maritime Strategy Studies in his honor. He also holds an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree awarded by Trinity College in 1997.

Dalton was born in New Orleans, La., on December 31, 1941, and was raised in Shreveport. He and his wife, Margaret, live in Washington, D. C. Their two sons are commissioned officers--John Jr., in the Navy, and Chris, in the Marine Corps.

Visit Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton's home page.
Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
May 5, 1998
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